<b>INFIELD</b>
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Jonathan Singleton will get the first shot at securing the starting spot at first base, but 2015 Astros Minor League Player of the Year A.J. Reed will be ready to pounce by May if Singleton cannot produce. Marwin Gonzalez is a super utility player who can play throughout the infield and in left field, but the Astros have arguably the best young middle infield combination in baseball with 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa at shortstop and three-time All-Star Jose Altuve at second.
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Luis Valbuena was the Astros’ starting third baseman most of the year, but he can also play first. less

<b>INFIELD</b>
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Jonathan Singleton will get the first shot at securing the starting spot at first base, but 2015 Astros Minor League Player of the Year A.J. Reed will be ready to pounce by May if ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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<b>CATCHER</b>
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Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might finally get a chance to secure a regular spot in the 25-man roster now that Hank Conger has been traded. less

<b>CATCHER</b>
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Jason Castro is a former All-Star who gets high marks for his superb ability to handle the pitching staff. Max Stassi, who has made brief cameos in the majors the last three years, might ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 9

<b>OUTFIELD</b>
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Barring a trade, left fielder Colby Rasmus, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder George Springer give the Astros a superb defensive outfield group. Speedy backup Jake Marisnick can excel defensively throughout the outfield, and left fielder Preston Tucker can provide lefthanded pop off the bench. less

<b>STARTING ROTATION</b>
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Ace lefthander Dallas Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young winner, anchors a solid rotation. Collin McHugh is the most underrated 19-game winner in recent memory, and hard-throwing righthander Lance McCullers could be a front-line starter soon. Mike Fiers, who threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers last year, is a solid starter at the back end of the rotation.
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The Astros are still searching for another starter. Scott Feldman was one of the top pitchers in the AL last August, but his season was derailed by a right shoulder injury. Feldman’s health status is a major reason the Astros are trying to add a starting pitcher this winter. Michael Feliz might get a chance to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation if the Astros somehow don't add a starter. less

<b>BULLPEN</b>
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Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge was traded to the Phillies and the first to consistently hit 100 mph since Billy Wagner in 2003. Lidge and Wagner were both dealt to the Phillies, and now Philadelphia has returned the favor, so to speak. With Giles closing.
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Former closer Luke Gregerson will give manager A.J. Hinch a stud setup man who can close. Will Harris, Pat Neshek , Tony Sipp and Josh Fields round out what could be a dominant bullpen. Michael Feliz could be an option in the bullpen as well, but the Astros still believe he can start consistently. LHP Kevin Chapman could challenge for a spot as a second lefty. less

<b>BULLPEN</b>
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Hard-throwing RHP Ken Giles will give the Astros bullpen the dominant power arm that was missing last season. He’s the first dominant power arm in the Astros’ bullpen since Brad Lidge ... more

New Hope has seven buildings in Houston serving nearly 1,000 residents who otherwise would be homeless.

“I think it’s extraordinary for this combination for the Astros to be so generous to extend their mission to deal with homelessness,” New Hope board chairman Mack Fowler said. “They’ve extended their philanthropic mission to deal with this issue. We at New Hope are extraordinarily grateful for their generosity.”

The Astros had around 950 folks at the Gala.

“I think it’s a great cause,” Astros owner Jim Crane said.

Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel and manager A.J. Hinch were notable absences from the Gala because they were in New York ahead of Saturday’s Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards dinner. Correa will receive his 2015 American League Rookie of the Year award and Keuchel will receive the 2015 AL Cy Young Award at the BBWAA dinner.

“This is good,” Altuve said. “Everything that the players can do to help the community we’re here doing it. We’re having a lot of fun inside that room with all the donors to the team to keep doing these kinds of activities.”